Medusa: A beautiful and profound retelling of Medusa’s story.
If I told you that I’d killed a man with a glance, would you wait to hear the rest? The why, the how, what happened next? Monster. Man-hater. Murderess.
Forget everything you’ve been told about Medusa. Internationally bestselling author Jessie Burton flips the script in this astonishing retelling of Greek myth, illuminating the woman behind the legend at last. Exiled to a far-flung island after being abused by powerful Gods, Medusa has little company other than the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair.
Haunted by the memories of a life before everything was stolen from her, she has no choice but to make peace with her present: Medusa the Monster. But when the charmed and beautiful Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is blown apart, unleashing desire, love… and betrayal.
“Medusa is a new interpretation of the ancient Greek myth, and details Medusa’s life within the first few years of becoming transformed by the goddess Athena. It is told entirely from Medusa’s point of view, and is a refreshing look at what is a tragic tale for this well-known mythological figure. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, and highly recommend it for anyone who loves the ancient world and Greek mythology.” – Tamsyn Hazell, Visitor Services Supervisor, Royal Armouries Museum
SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL
‘A beautiful and profound retelling’ – Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe
‘Gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity’ – Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Elektra‘… a must-read for women of all ages’ – Red magazine
‘Utterly transporting’ – Guardian Books of the Year
‘…an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling’ – Irish Times
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing; 1st edition (2 Feb. 2023)
- Language: English
- Paperback
- 208 pages
- ISBN-10: 152666240X
- ISBN-13: 978-1526662408
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.12 x 19.81 cm
About the author;
Jessie Burton is the author of four novels: The Miniaturist, The Muse, The Confession, and The House of Fortune.
The Miniaturist and The Muse were Sunday Times no.1 bestsellers in hardback and paperback, and New York Times bestsellers. The Miniaturist was UK Christmas no.1, National Book Awards Book of the Year, and Waterstones Book of the Year 2014, and sold more than 1 million copies in its first year. In 2017 it was adapted as a two-part BBC miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy. The Confession was a Sunday Times bestseller. The House of Fortune was a Sunday Times no.1 bestseller in hardback, with the paperback to come in July 2023.
Her novels have been published in 40 languages.
Her first book for children, The Restless Girls, was published in 2018, followed by Medusa in 2021. Medusa is shortlisted for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing.
